1. Reading and Evaluating Arguments

2. Learning Objectives: To recognize the elements of an argument
To recognize types of arguments
To evaluate arguments
To recognize errors in logical reasoning

3. An argument presents logical reasons
and evidence to support a viewpoint

4. Parts of an Argument
ISSUE - problem or controversy about which people disagree
CLAIM - the position on the issue
SUPPORT - reasons and evidence that the claim is reasonable and should be accepted
REBUTTAL - opposing viewpoints

5. Types of Claims
CLAIM OF FACT - statement that can be proven or verified by observation or research
“Within ten years, destruction of rain forests will cause hundreds of plant and animal species to become extinct.”

6. Types of Claims
CLAIM OF VALUE - states that one thing or idea is better or more desirable than another.
“Requiring community service in high school will produce more community-aware graduates.”

7. Types of Claims
CLAIM OF POLICY - suggests what should or ought to be done to solve a problem.
“To reduce school violence, more gun and metal detectors should be installed in public schools.”

8. Types of Support REASON - a general statement that supports a claim.
EVIDENCE - consists of facts, statistics, experiences, comparisons, and examples that show why the claim is valid.
EMOTIONAL APPEALS - ideas that are targeted toward needs or values that readers are likely to care about.

9. TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Evaluate Types of Evidence - Is it sufficient to support the claim?
Personal Experience - may be biased, so do not accept it
Examples - should not be used by themselves

10. TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Statistics - Statistical evidence is the kind of data people tend to look for first when trying to prove a point.  
can be misused, manipulated or misinterpreted.
Example: McDonald’s billboards that say “1 Billion served”; Trident “4 out of 5 dentists agree…”

11. TYPES OF EVIDENCE Testimonial- Expert statement
Commercials that use spokespersons to testify about the quality of a company’s product, lawyers who rely on eye-witness accounts  to win a case, and students who quote an authority in their essays are all using testimonial evidence

12. TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Anecdotal- Personal story or experience; common sense message from life 
Anecdotal evidence is evidence that is based on a person’s observations of the world. **

13. TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Analogical (Comparision) – Provides an example that compares the claim to a relevant/shared experience
Analogies are mainly useful when dealing with a topic that is under-researched.  If you are on the cutting edge of an issue, you’re the person breaking new ground.  When you don’t have statistics to refer to or other authorities on the matter to quote, you have to get your evidence from somewhere

14. EXIT TICKET
IN YOUR OWN WORDS, explain the four types of evidence that can be used to support a claim in a debate. Helpful link
STATISTICAL
TESTIMONIAL
ANECDOTAL
ANALOGICAL
*You can write this on notebook paper or type it and submit it through Edmodo/share it as a Google doc